NATURE IN NEIGHBORHOODS
A participatory budgeting process with Metro parks and recreation Community Choice Grants to ideate and develop with community the nature and park projects they want to see
HILLSBORO, OR
Partners and Collaborators: Knot Studio, MultiCultural Collaborative
Project Budget $300,000
Size: District-wide
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CDA/CDO: 6
Fee Allocated: $10,000 -
12/2022 - 12/2023
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05 Center Community Leadership
06 Create, Protect, Reclaim Public Space
10 Return Land, Wealth, and Access to Indigenous and Black Communities
Access to greenspace within the urban environment has long been tied to systemic investment and disinvestment based on wealth and ethnic distribution of community groups. Through the Nature in Neighborhoods Community Choice Grants pilot project, we joined Metro (regional government) to successfully facilitate this award-winning participatory budgeting pilot program. The project resulted in 14 park and nature restoration projects across 6 districts being approved for funding by Metro Council.
Community Organizers worked with the team to reach priority communities, creating culturally specific gatherings that strengthened community bonds while advocating for community needs.
Our process resulted in one of the highest levels of participation in any participatory budgeting project across the country, and our team has been awarded the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Respect for Diversity, Inclusion and Culture Award.
